NEW Singles & Videos + Release Announcements + Brand New Signings
BRIGHT EYES share 'St. Ides Heaven'
Bright Eyes have released ‘St. Ides Heaven.’ The Elliot Smith cover is taken from Letting Off The Happiness: A Companion featuring vocals from Phoebe Bridgers – part of their forthcoming Companion series releases, the first three of which are to be released on Dead Oceans on May 27. The Omaha, Nebraska trio of Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott announced The Companion Series earlier this year - with plans to re-issue all nine of their studio albums as a Companion series with additional recordings created together at their ARC Studios in Omaha. The album reissue series will be partnered with the release of a Companion EP of five new recordings of songs contained on the original release plus a cover version from an artist they found particularly inspiring at the time of the original recording.
DANNY ELFMAN & TRENT REZNOR - Native Intelligence
Musical icons Danny Elfman and Trent Reznor have joined forces once again for a brand new version of ‘Native Intelligence,’ the duo’s second collaborative reimagining of music from Eflman’s ambitious double album Big Mess [ANTI- /Epitaph Records]. “He’s always been a big inspiration to me,” Elfman said of Reznor
GIRLPOOL share new single
Girlpool, the Los Angeles indie rock duo, share a video for ‘Nothing Gives Me Pleasure,’ the final single from their Yves Rothman-produced new album Forgiveness. Avery Tucker and Harmony Tividad have been making critically-acclaimed music as Girlpool since they were high schoolers, scurrying around Los Angeles’ all-ages concert spaces and skipping class to play gigs with their friends. Now in their mid 20's, Foregiveness is the duos fourth studio album and the early album praise indicate it's a winner for Girlpool.
HIGH PULP share new track
Seattle Jazz collective High Pulp are sharing ‘Kamishinjo’ today, a cosmic new track featuring Jacob Mann on keyboards. 'Kamishinjo' is featured on Pursuit of Ends. There’s something defiant, something utterly liberating about High Pulp’s debut, drawing on punk rock, shoegaze, hip-hop, and electronic music, the band’s brand of experimental jazz is both vintage and futuristic all at once, hinting at times to everything from Miles Davis and Duke Ellington to Aphex Twin and My Bloody Valentine.
JARV IS... 'This is Going to Hurt' , BBC soundtrack
JARV IS the british rock band formed by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker… have written & performed the original soundtrack for the critically acclaimed BBC TV series ‘This is Going to Hurt’ based on Adam Kay’s award-winning international multi-million selling memoir of the same name. Most of the performances are live takes featuring the entire band – often recorded whilst they watched the playback of key sequences from the series. Each episode features at least one song with lyrics by Cocker, who had access to the scripts (adapted by Adam Kay from his own book) from an early stage in the production process.
New KATHY BATES MOTEL (NZ) single/video
CAT VID ALERT! Kathy Bates Motel is led by Joe Lonie (Supergroove) with a lot of help from his friends; singer & bassist Morgan Leary (Cindy), guitarist Jolyon Mulholland (Mulholland) and drummer Milan Borich (Pluto). Not only is Joe a very talented muso, but he also has a string of film credits to his name meaning the video for the new single 'Where Do U Go?' is brilliant and it's the star is the very cinematic pet meow "Heads" - trust us it's a must-watch!
PERFUME GENIUS announces new album Ugly Season + short film
Michael Alden Hadreas, better known by his stage name Perfume Genius, is an American musician of Greek descent. Ugly Season will be his 6th album and is due for release June 17. The music of Ugly Season was written for Perfume Genius and choreographer Kate Wallich’s immersive dance piece, The Sun Still Burns Here. Perfume Genius shared two of the dance project’s compositions – ‘Pop Song’ and ‘Eye in the Wall’. “It’s the sound of dancefloor euphoria,” said Pitchfork. “The color of lights flashing as you move through a crowd, the touch of skin damp and warm against everyone else’s.” Now the entirety of the project’s original music can be heard in Ugly Season.
poptropicaslutz! - the last time i was scared was when you caught me trying to kill you
poptropicaslutz! Is the New York state “Hyper-Punk” phenomenon you’ve never heard of. While they just formed during quarantine (and are new to the scene), you’ll find hundreds of kids at their SOLD OUT shows waiting in line for merch, and begging for photos with the band. Composed of Nick Crawford and Christian Cicilia, poptropicaslutz! Is an authentic emo-pop group for generation Z.
SPACE WALTZ (NZ) return with new single
Yes, you read that right! Homegrown heroes ‘Space Waltz’ (Alastair Riddell, Eddie Rayner, Brent Eccles, Peter Cuddihy and Greg Clark) return with their first new recording since 1973, ‘Hypnotise Me.’ The band re-formed in 2021, remarkably incorporating all of the original members with long time band member Eddie Rayner announcing on RNZ that Space Waltz is in the process of recording a new album. Its release will make the Guinness Book of Records for the longest period between an artist’s first and second album – 47 years and counting.
YVES JARVIS announces new album 'The Zug'
Yves Jarvis is the stage name of Jean-Sébastien Yves Audet, a Canadian experimental musician, singer and producer who also previously released music under the stage name Un Blonde, he also makes up 50% of Lightman Jarvis Ecstatic Band. The Zug is his 4th album under his Yves Jarvis moniker, which he adopted in 2018 explaining "Yves is my middle name and Jarvis is my mother's maiden name." With his youthful exuberance and swagger, the 25-year-old evokes a mid-1970s Bowie.
New Albums & EPs Out Now
ALDOUS HARDING new album Warm Chris out now
Warm Chris, the new album from Aldous Harding is released today in Aotearoa on Flying Nun. Featuring the singles ‘Fever’ and ‘Lawn’, the New Zealander’s fourth studio album reunited her with producer John Parish, continuing a professional partnership that began in 2017 and has forged pivotal bodies of work (2017’s Partyand 2019’s Designer). Warm Chris is now available digitally and on CD and black vinyl gatefold formats. For further information click the link.
ARCHITECTS release ‘For Those That Wish To Exist at Abbey Road’
British metalcore legends ARCHITECTS today release For Those That Wish To Exist at Abbey Road. The album was recorded at London’s iconic Abbey Road studios, during a global streaming event and features a reimagined orchestral version of their critically acclaimed, UK number 1 album For Those That Wish To Exist”. The band’s performance is backed by Parallax Orchestra, made up of some of UK’s best and most versatile classical musicians. “The expansive metallers pair ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ with the heft of a live orchestra, with magical results”- NME
SPOON release 'Wild' EP
Spoon unveils the Wild EP which features three alternate versions of the recently released Lucifer On The Sofas' ‘Wild‘ including the Jack Antonoff produced “Jack Wild” and a remix from dub icon Dennis Bovell.
Last month, Spoon unleashed Lucifer on the Sofa, “their best record ever” (Rolling Stone). Earning rave reviews and global acclaim, the new album marks an important sea-change for the group that The Guardian called “one of the finest bands of their generation”
Covers of the Week
Taylor Swift, Cap Beefheart & King Crimson - black midi release Cavalcovers EP
black midi (stylised in all lowercase) are an English rock band from London, formed in 2017. Following their 2021 release Cavalcade (praised as one of the best albums of 2021 by The New York Times, Pitchfork, The FADER, Stereogum, and more.) black midi have released Cavalcovers, an EP featuring covers of Taylor Swift, King Crimson, and Captain Beefheart, via Rough Trade.
Reissue of the Week
OCEANSIZE reissue Everyone Into Position
Manchester rock band OCEANSIZE formed in 1998 and released four albums before calling it a day in 2011. They gained favorable comparisons in the press to bands like Mogwai, Tool, Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, My Bloody Valentine, Can, and Faith No More among others. Everyone Into Position was Oceansize’s second studio album and Beggars Arkive will be reissuing it on June 3rd - on yellow splatter vinyl too!
Tours, Events and Festivals
Hell Yeah! BIG THIEF announce 2022 New Zealand tour!
Jumping for joy this week as BIG THIEF announce they’ll be coming to New Zealand for two shows this December in Auckland and Wellington! One of the most talked-about indie acts today, the critically acclaimed and GRAMMY-nominated band will be touring in support of their latest album released in February, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You. Hit the link for all the details!
LUCY DACUS Aotearoa shows | THE LABEL
And a doubled whoop was heard yelled from The Label offices this week as the one and only Lucy Dacus is returning to Aotearoa this June with her band to play FOUR very special shows! Fans can expect to catch Dacus playing songs from her celebrated album Home Video which was featured in countless ‘best albums of 2021’ lists.
Joan As Police Woman releases new video - NZ Tour June
A timely reminder as we crawl our way out of this pandemic - so much to look forward to. Joan As Police Woman x Tony Allen x Dave Okumu (Feat: Damon Albarn) - 'Get My Bearings'
We're hoping you've had a chance to listen to our very own songstress Aldous Harding (NZ) as her new album Warm Chris is out today on Flying Nun (as always we highly recommend visiting your local record store on the weekend and picking up a physical copy!) But it doesn't stop there! With new releases from Architects & Spoon. New music/videos and announcements from black midi, Bright Eyes, Danny Elfman Girlpool, High Pulp, Jarv Is, Joan As Police Woman, Kathy Bates Motel (NZ), poptropicaslutz, Perfume Genius, Space Waltz (NZ), Yves Jarvis
International touring is back and we can't wait to watch Lucy Dacus, Big Thief & Joan As Police Woman when they come to Aotearoa.
Remixes, Reissues, Cute Cats, Covers, announcements, celebrations, dumplings, guitar lessons, your free weekly playlist & more! Happy Label Club 10!
ICYMI - Curated by The Label
Interview: Don McGlashan Talks About New Album 'Bright November Morning'
Aotearoa icon chatted with DARTZ's Clark Mathews about his new record (and dumplings.) This morning Dartz have released their own version of The Muttonbirds Dominion Road (featuring dumplings) anyone hungry? It's genius and well worth a Friday watch! https://www.undertheradar.co.nz/news/19515/DARTZ-Unleash-Single--Video-Dominion-Road-Dumpling-House.utr
Adrianne Lenker alternative guitar tunings || Newport Folk Festival ||
In celebration of the tour announce this week - this one goes out to our gat playing /learning / dreaming about learning viewers....Hang out with Adrianne for a bit - she's sharing some tuning secrets. Fun fact - Nick Drake also was know for really messing with his guitar tunings making his songs sound so magical! Video credits goes to Newport Folk Festival. Adrianne Lenker illustrates the alternative tunings she uses to write her songs.
Winners announced for the 2021 APRA Silver Scroll Awards | Kaitito Kaiaka
E ngā mana e ngā reo, nau mai tautī mai rā ki tēnei pāpāhotanga e whakanui nei i ngā kaitito kaiaka o te motu. Welcome to the 2021 APRA Silver Scroll Awards ... HUGE congrats to all the well deserved winners. Special Label love to all the finalists and a big kapai to APRA and all those involved in making the goosebump inducing online event, you can watch it here, so grab your tissues as you watch a super special version of 'All Your Ships Have Sailed' - filmed and recorded by Deva Mahal with a band of nine wāhine toa to mark tonight's win.
We Made You A Mix Tape
Get Your Ears On The Latest Indie Greatest
Your free weekly playlist, featuring this weeks curates plus more x your weekend listening/viewing/grooving sorted x